Toward an integrated map of genetic interactions in cancer cells

Abstract Cancer genomes often harbor hundreds of molecular aberrations. Such genetic variants can be drivers or passengers of tumorigenesis and create vulnerabilities for potential therapeutic exploitation. To identify genotype‐dependent vulnerabilities, forward genetic screens in different genetic...

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Main Authors: Benedikt Rauscher, Florian Heigwer, Luisa Henkel, Thomas Hielscher, Oksana Voloshanenko, Michael Boutros
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2018-02-01
Series:Molecular Systems Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.15252/msb.20177656
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author Benedikt Rauscher
Florian Heigwer
Luisa Henkel
Thomas Hielscher
Oksana Voloshanenko
Michael Boutros
author_facet Benedikt Rauscher
Florian Heigwer
Luisa Henkel
Thomas Hielscher
Oksana Voloshanenko
Michael Boutros
author_sort Benedikt Rauscher
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Cancer genomes often harbor hundreds of molecular aberrations. Such genetic variants can be drivers or passengers of tumorigenesis and create vulnerabilities for potential therapeutic exploitation. To identify genotype‐dependent vulnerabilities, forward genetic screens in different genetic backgrounds have been conducted. We devised MINGLE, a computational framework to integrate CRISPR/Cas9 screens originating from different libraries building on approaches pioneered for genetic network discovery in model organisms. We applied this method to integrate and analyze data from 85 CRISPR/Cas9 screens in human cancer cells combining functional data with information on genetic variants to explore more than 2.1 million gene‐background relationships. In addition to known dependencies, we identified new genotype‐specific vulnerabilities of cancer cells. Experimental validation of predicted vulnerabilities identified GANAB and PRKCSH as new positive regulators of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling. By clustering genes with similar genetic interaction profiles, we drew the largest genetic network in cancer cells to date. Our scalable approach highlights how diverse genetic screens can be integrated to systematically build informative maps of genetic interactions in cancer, which can grow dynamically as more data are included.
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spelling doaj-art-976451cedcc74a589433ae90e6e6e00f2025-08-20T02:11:54ZengSpringer NatureMolecular Systems Biology1744-42922018-02-0114211710.15252/msb.20177656Toward an integrated map of genetic interactions in cancer cellsBenedikt Rauscher0Florian Heigwer1Luisa Henkel2Thomas Hielscher3Oksana Voloshanenko4Michael Boutros5Division of Signaling and Functional Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)Division of Signaling and Functional Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)Division of Signaling and Functional Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)Division of Biostatistics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)Division of Signaling and Functional Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)Division of Signaling and Functional Genomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)Abstract Cancer genomes often harbor hundreds of molecular aberrations. Such genetic variants can be drivers or passengers of tumorigenesis and create vulnerabilities for potential therapeutic exploitation. To identify genotype‐dependent vulnerabilities, forward genetic screens in different genetic backgrounds have been conducted. We devised MINGLE, a computational framework to integrate CRISPR/Cas9 screens originating from different libraries building on approaches pioneered for genetic network discovery in model organisms. We applied this method to integrate and analyze data from 85 CRISPR/Cas9 screens in human cancer cells combining functional data with information on genetic variants to explore more than 2.1 million gene‐background relationships. In addition to known dependencies, we identified new genotype‐specific vulnerabilities of cancer cells. Experimental validation of predicted vulnerabilities identified GANAB and PRKCSH as new positive regulators of Wnt/β‐catenin signaling. By clustering genes with similar genetic interaction profiles, we drew the largest genetic network in cancer cells to date. Our scalable approach highlights how diverse genetic screens can be integrated to systematically build informative maps of genetic interactions in cancer, which can grow dynamically as more data are included.https://doi.org/10.15252/msb.20177656cancerepistasisgenetic interactionsnetworkssynthetic lethality
spellingShingle Benedikt Rauscher
Florian Heigwer
Luisa Henkel
Thomas Hielscher
Oksana Voloshanenko
Michael Boutros
Toward an integrated map of genetic interactions in cancer cells
Molecular Systems Biology
cancer
epistasis
genetic interactions
networks
synthetic lethality
title Toward an integrated map of genetic interactions in cancer cells
title_full Toward an integrated map of genetic interactions in cancer cells
title_fullStr Toward an integrated map of genetic interactions in cancer cells
title_full_unstemmed Toward an integrated map of genetic interactions in cancer cells
title_short Toward an integrated map of genetic interactions in cancer cells
title_sort toward an integrated map of genetic interactions in cancer cells
topic cancer
epistasis
genetic interactions
networks
synthetic lethality
url https://doi.org/10.15252/msb.20177656
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AT thomashielscher towardanintegratedmapofgeneticinteractionsincancercells
AT oksanavoloshanenko towardanintegratedmapofgeneticinteractionsincancercells
AT michaelboutros towardanintegratedmapofgeneticinteractionsincancercells